Rangers at Senators
The New York Rangers have scored two goals or fewer in eight of their last 12 games and that lack of offense directly has correlated to their swoon in the standings. With just three wins during that stretch, the reeling Rangers bid to break out of their funk on Saturday afternoon when they conclude their four-game road trip against the Ottawa Senators.
"Last few weeks, slowly we are moving in the wrong direction not getting enough points. The way things are going, it's hard for us to score goals," said New York goaltender Henrik Lundqvist, who watched his team fail to solve counterpart Jaroslav Halak despite registering a season-high 50 shots in Thursday's 3-0 setback to the Islanders. Lundqvist turned aside all 20 shots he faced in a 3-0 victory over Ottawa on Nov. 19, with former Senators forward Mika Zibanejad scoring in that contest. Ottawa has answered a six-game winless skid with victories in five of eight contests in February. Former Rangers Derick Brassard and Marian Gaborik each had a goal before Mike Hoffman scored 1:13 into overtime in the Senators' 3-2 win over Buffalo on Thursday.
TV: 2 p.m. ET, MSG (New York), TVAS, TSN5 (Ottawa)
ABOUT THE RANGERS (27-26-5): Forward Pavel Buchnevich is expected to return Saturday following a seven-game absence due to a concussion. "He's in," coach Alain Vigneault said of the 22-year-old Russian, who resides third on the team in points with 32 (13 goals, 19 assists). Vigneault gave a less than 50 percent chance to play for Kevin Hayes (undisclosed), who missed practice on Friday with a maintenance day while backup goaltender Alexandar Georgiev won't be able to make his NHL debut as he nurses the flu. Vigneault said the team would recall another netminder from its minor league system in order to give workhorse Lundqvist a breather.
ABOUT THE SENATORS (20-27-9): Gaborik had a productive debut with his new team after being acquired in a four-person deal that featured defenseman Dion Phaneuf heading to Los Angeles. "It feels good to contribute to a win. It feels that much better," Gaborik said after he scored a goal and had an assist on Brassard's late third-period tally versus the Sabres. Matt Duchene set up all three goals on Thursday to increase his point total to eight (two goals, six assists) in the past five games.
OVERTIME
1. Ottawa D Erik Karlsson has eight points (one goal, seven assists) in his past nine games.
2. Rangers RW Michael Grabner, who scored in each contest against the Senators this season, had two goals and an assist in his previous three games before the team was shut out versus the Islanders.
3. Ottawa recalled Max McCormick from Belleville, activated Gabriel Dumont (undisclosed) from the injured reserve list and demoted fellow F Colin White to the American Hockey League affiliate.